Demolition of former Macy's set for development in White Plains.

A milestone was reached in the City of White Plains last week when a launch ceremony was held at the former Macy's department store. Demolition work will now begin for one of the most ambitious new projects in downtown White Plains in the last 25 years. Over the next two months demolition of the exterior of the old store will result in the site being readied for construction of a new $300 million, mixed-use, retail and residential complex to be called City Center at White Plains. The plans for the project are currently under review by the City.

Where Macy's conducted business for 50 years, Cappelli Enterprises, one of Westchester county's developers, plans to create an architecturally stunning complex, that will include 600,000 SF of retail stores, restaurants, and movie theaters, and 600 luxury residential apartments.

City Center at White Plains will include an 80,000 SF, 16-screen movie theater, 395,000 SF of retail space, and 55,000 SF of restaurants. The commercial space will be directly accessible from the sidewalks of Mamaroneck Ave., Main St., and Martine Ave. - a key design consideration intended to avoid the feeling of a "closed-in mall." Cappelli has also proposed creating a 10,000 SF community performing arts center at the property.

The residential component of the project is a significant step in the revitalization effort for downtown White Plains. Cappelli plans to construct two stylish, high-rise residential building for the project. One tower will rise along Main Street, the other along Martine, offering a total of 560 apartments. Forty apartments are to be built in a loft building along Martine Ave.

A key element of the Cappelli proposal is the creation of an extensively landscaped pedestrian plaza on the site of E.J. Conroy Drive, a street linking Main Street with Martine Ave. The company has proposed closing the street and converting the space into a plaza that will include landscaped gardens, fountains, outdoor dining, and a winter ice skating area.

A new $37 million parking garage, with 2,150 spaces, is also planned. The new garage will be built on the site of the City-owned Mamaroneck-Martine garage. The City and Cappelli will jointly finance the new garage, with the city contributing $23 million and Cappelli investing $14 million.

Louis R. Cappelli, president of Cappelli Enterprises, said the demolition of Macy's serves as an important symbol of the revitalization of downtown. "The store has been empty since Macy's relocated to the Galleria Mall five years ago. There have been various ideas and plans for a new use of the site ever since, but nothing jelled. We felt it was important not only to our own development timeframe, but for the city as a whole, to start preparing the site for a new beginning."

Capelli noted that the City Center project is expected to generate $119 million in new net revenues to the City, $119 million in new revenues to the county, and $201 million in new revenues to the state over a period of 25 years. "This is the model of how public-private partnerships should work," he commented.

Capelli characterized the Macy's site as the best commercial development site in the county. "This is the top location in the center of the county seat of Westchester. In many ways, this site can be viewed as the center point for Westchester county, and we are especially happy to have the opportunity to create a truly exciting new project at this key location."

Cappelli said that once approvals for the new center are received, construction will begin immediately. He said that building a project like City Center would normally be expected to take 30 to 36 months. He believes, however, that his construction company can build the entire complex in about 20 months.